District welcomes new intervention team members

Revere High School welcomed three new staff members into its intervention department this year: two interventionist aides and one Response to Intervention (RTI) coordinator.

At the beginning of the year, Rene Zapisek and Marty Russo began working as interventionist aides at the high school, and John Daraio started working as Revere’s RTI coordinator.  

Zapisek volunteered with Revere for eight years and served as PTA vice president for two years, but this year marks her first as a Revere staff member. Zapisek, working as an assistant to Interventionist Specialist Stephanie Duttry, detailed her experience.

“[Duttry] has explained so much to me. She takes the time to sit down and go over each and every child with me.  She has taken the time to to show me the ins and outs: what to feed them, who has allergies [and] how to get kids on and off the bus.  I really would say she’s done an excellent job,” Zapisek said.

Russo also began his first year working as an interventionist aide at the high school.  Russo described his experiences with the other staff members and his first impression of the high school.

“The staff have been very welcoming this year, and I really just enjoy the whole student body [and] student interaction. I love the class that I am in.  These are fantastic kids,” Russo said.

Russo also stated his favorite part of the job.

“My favorite part of the job is . . . being able to work with the students here. I really enjoy that: just being able to see them light up when we are doing things together,” Russo said.

Interventionist Specialist Stephanie Duttry, who has worked at the high school for five years, works with Russo and Zapisek. Duttry stated how the two will contribute to the intervention department.

“I think that they’re bringing a lot of new ideas.  I think they’re bringing a lot of new energy.  They are able to think outside of the typical intervention box because of their own children and what they have experienced, whether it’s in the education world or outside,” Duttry said.

Dariao has begun his first year as Revere’s RTI coordinator. Daraio, who has coached football and baseball at Revere for two years, compared his job as the RTI coordinator to his experience as a coach.

“It’s the same as coaching: working with kids and coaching them and trying to make them better people and better students,” Daraio said.

Principal Phil King commented on the contributions of the new staff members as well as their importance to the school.

“We’re glad that they’re here filling a role . . . and helping students grow and become better individuals. I think that’s important, so we’re glad to have their assistance,” King said.

King and the other members of the Revere High School community hope that the new staff members in the intervention department will enjoy their experiences at Revere High School.